Photo: Kristy Gill

The Tri-Lakes region is a trailrunner’s paradise. It is comprised of several foothill communities of northern El Paso County, Colorado. Strictly speaking, these communities are Monument, Woodmoor and Palmer Lake. Adjacent communities include The United States Air Force Academy, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Larkspur in southern Douglas County. Most of the community lies between 7,000 and 7,500 feet of elevation, with abundant trails open year round. Prominent physical features include Rampart Range, Palmer Divide, Mount Herman, Black Forest, Monument Rock and Cathedral Rock. An extension of Pike National Forest includes tens of miles of challenging, forested, scenic trails. Fox Run Park, Spruce Mountain Park, Greenland Open Space and the Palmer Reservoir Trails offer additional trail-running opportunities of varying degrees of difficulty. For those seeking more moderate trail-running conditions, The New Santa Fe Trail runs north-west to south-east through the region, with several easily accessible trail-heads. The region is home to approximately 50,000 residents.

While running in the Tri-Lakes region, be sure to check out Cornerstone Multisport in Palmer Lake for apparel, nutrition, knowledge of the local trail running scene, and more.

Photo: Kristy Gill